Well cleaning device



Nov. 3, 1936.

J. J. sAN'nAGQ WELL CLEANING DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inl/enfer Nov. 3, 1936. J. J. SANTIAGO WELL CLEANING DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Tanzes Janiaga.

NOV. 3, 1936. y l- 1 5ANT|AGQ 2,059,611

WELL' CLEANING DEVICE Filed Jani. 26, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 U- y Erla Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED -STATES WELL CLEANING DEVICE James J. Santiago, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to John Grant, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 26, 1935, Serial No. 3,584 1s claims. (ci. 16e-19) This invention has to do generally with well cleaning devices and is more particularly concerned with such devices wherein there is provided a low-pressure-holding or charge-receiving chamber with a normally closed inlet adapted to be opened at predetermined points in the well whereby the well fluid, under relatively` high pressure, charges that chamber with sand or other foreign matter adjacent the inlet, or sets up such fluid-movement as to dislodge foreign matter which may be oifering obstruction to free passage of fluid through fissures in the formation or perforations in the Well casing.

While the invention is here described in connection with a device having a single-charge, low-pressure chamber adapted to be emptied after each charging and after the tool has been lifted from the well, it will be understood the i1- lustrated inlet valve for said chamber and the valve-control mechanism may be applied with advantage to the inlet of any type of low pressure chamber, irrespective of the manner in which the charged chamber is subsequently emptied and prepared for re-charge, and therefore the showing or the invention as embodied in connection with a particular type of chamber is not to be considered as limitative on such broader aspects of the invention.

In this connection it is to be noted that in dislodging foreign matter from casing perforations or otherwise promoting uid flow by setting up fluid movement through the charging of the receiving chamber, (as distinguished from "bailing) the matter so dislodged is ordinarily, but not necessarily, forced into the charge receiving chamber and subsequently disposed of along with the fluid charge.

The device will here be described as utilized in the cleaning of casing perforations, to which use it is particularly well adapted, but this particularized description is not to be considered as in any way limitative on the adaptability on the device for other cleaning operations.

Conditions under which it is desirable or necessary to perform well cleaning operations are so well known to workers in the art that it will be unnecessary here to detail them.

It is well recognized, however, that cleaning devices of the general nature set forth above must have certain characteristics, not easy of attainment, in order that they may he capable of performing efilciently and surely the services required. For instance, it is highly important that the inlet to the low pressure chamber be kept tightly closed until the cleaner has reached the predetermined zone of operation and yet, in spite of that tight closure and in spite of the usually high fluid pressure in that zone, the inlet must be capable of practically instantaneous full-opening, .under the control of the operator, after reaching that zone. Further, the control mechanism must not only be sure and fast in operation, but, to be fully eicient, must be of a nature which does not interfere with the rapid lowering or raising of the device to and from the zone of operation. Further. it must present little or no danger of accidental valvetripping.

Therefore it is among the general objects of the invention to provide a cleaner which shall have the above desirable features, as Well as others which may be pointed out to better advantage in connection with the detailed description to follow.

It may here be pointed out, however, that the present invention contemplates, as a preference, a downwardly opening inlet valve which is inherently balanced, that is, its oppositely disposed end faces are of substantially equal effective cross-sectional areas and are exposed to the well pressure, the pressure on the top face therefor having the effect of substantially balancing the well pressure which is otherwise effective on the lower face in a valve-closing direction. It follows that the eifect of well pressure, endwise of the valve, may be disregarded in eifecting unseating of the valve when the zone of operation is reached, even though that pressure be relatively y high.

When used in connection with the cleaning of casing perforations, it is preferable that a packer, extending into engagement with the casing, be utilized for localizing the effect of the cleaner. With such a packer in use, it becomes desirable that the fluid be luy-passed therearound as the cleaner is lowered to and raised from the zone of operation. Since, as a matter of simplicity I preferably utilize a single duct as a part of both the inlet and by-pass passageways, it becomes desirable, when the inlet valve is open, to close the by-pass port or ports from that duct, so the local- .izing effect may not be minimized by fluid shortcircuiting through said ports.

Therefore, as a feature of my invention, I have provided means whereby the by-pass port or ports may be closed before the inlet valve is opened and then reopened after the cleaner has taken its charge. The arrangement is such that, after the zone of operation is reached, simple withdrawal movement of the cleaner accomplishes first, the closing of the by-pass, second, the opening of the valve, and third, the reopening of the by-pass.

As a further feature, the packer, by virtue oi' its engagement with the casing, is utilized as a retarding member holding certain parts of the cleaner stationary during initial Withdrawal movement of the main body, thus serving to set up the particular relative movement of parts which accomplishes the specified sequential operations.

The invention also contemplates an improved type of slide-valve and connective means between that valve and the actuator or valveopener.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cleaner embodying -my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinally contracted section on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in changed position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; the valve shown in Fig. 2 being here repeated for convenience of reference.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the valve in open position;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the position of parts as the cleaner is withdrawn from the well;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a section on line Ill- I0 of Fig. 5 or Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a section on line II-II of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is a section on line I2-I2 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 13 and 14 are views similar to Figs. 5 and 3. respectively, but showing a modification of the invention; and

Fig. 15 is a section on line IS-IB of Fig. 14.

As has been previously stated, my cleaning device is particularly well adapted, but not limited, to the dislodgement of foreign matter from the perforations of well-casing, and therefore I have illustrated the device in Figs. 5 to 'l as positioned within such a perforated casing, or screen A having any suitable type of perforations, here conventionally indicated at B.

Body member C of the cleaning device is here shown as made of a plurality of sections coupled end to end, though it will be understood the showing of such sectional characteristics is not to be construed as limitative on the invention.

Threadably connected body or casing sections are indicated at I0, II, I2 and I3, section I0 (Fig. 2) serving as a head or top closure for the.

charge-receiving or low-pressure chamber D which is annularly defined by those sections. Attachment section i4 is threadably connected to section I0 and serves as means whereby the body member may be attached to a suspension element-cable I5,for instance. Section Il, here shown as longitudinally contracted, may be of any desirable length, and may, itself, be sectional. A forty foot length gives chamber D a capacity ample for most operations.

Head section I0 has a reduced axial bore I6 from which extends a transverse passageway I'I controlled by a spring-closed, outwardly-opening relief valve generally indicated at I8. The function of this valve is merely to relieve high pressure in the charge chamber as the tool is raised into zones of lower pressure. To facilitate unloading of chamber D, as will hereinafter be described, I preferably provide an inwardlyopening, spring-closed dump-relief valve generally indicated at I9. scribed and claimed in the copending application of W. C. Erwin, et al., on Well bailers, filed April 22, 1933, Ser. No. 667,439 wherein the valve showing is substantially identical with the instant showing. It will sufli'ce here to state that removable screw plug 20 normally closes passage- This valve is fully de-v aosaei 1 ways 2|. When chamber D is to be unloaded, plug 2n is removed and passageway 2| is then adapted -to put that chamber into communica-- tion with the atmosphere when the negative pressure therein (as created by the dumping of the uid) is of a value allowing spring-closed valve III to open under atmospheric pressure.

Section I2 is provided with a removable dumpdoor 22; the construction and mounting oi' which are fully described in said copending application, Ser. No. 667,439, in which application the showing of the door is substantially the same as the instant showing and which application contains claims to these features. The door is opened by loosening screws 23 (which normally press the door inwardly to compress gasket 24 and thus provide a fluid-tight seal), and then sliding the door transversely to clear lugs 2l from lips 23, which latter define ways 21 (Figs. 1 and 2).

Section I2 is also provided with an upwardly opening check valve 23, transverse rod 2! being spaced thereabove to serve as a stop for valve-ball 3l. l

The main inlet valve for chamber D is provided in section I3a, threadably connected to section I3, and is generally indicated at 3|, numerals 32 and 33 indicating the seat and closure members, respectively.

Member 32 is in the form of a cylinder having its upper portion projecting into chamber D, the cylinder being annularly spaced from section I3 and having one or more side inlet ports 34 opening to the chamber. The inlets are here shown as two in number and disposed diametrically opposite each other, but this showing is not to be construed as in any way limitative. Cylinder 32 is closed at its upper end 3.5 while its bore 3l opens downwardly to serve as a guideway for closure 33 which, in its preferred form, may be typified generally as a tube or internal sleeve having outer peripheral engagement with the interior wall of cylinder 32. When in the position of Fig. 5, tube 33 closes oil' inlet ports 3l and preferably, though not necessarily, the tube is slotted at the sides remote from said ports. The slots are indicated at 31 and it will be seen they may be considered as located at opposite sides of either in let port. 'I'he slotting renders the tube increasingly radially expansive, at its inlet-closing portions, so internal fluid pressure directed thereagainst may be more effective in pressing the tube walls firmly against the cylinder walls, and thus insure tight closures about the inlet ports. By properly proportioning the slots (both as to length and width) and properly proportioning 'the tube and cylinder, the valve-parts are rendered adaptable to preserve a tight seal about the inlet ports under varying internal fluid pressure, and yet the frictional resistance to their relative movement, for effecting opening of the inlets, is not increased to a prohibitive degree even when that internal pressure becomes relatively great.

It will be seen that bore 38a of tube 33 serves as a passageway through the closure whereby well fluid is admitted to the upper end of the cylinder. Since the upper and lower faces of the tube, as exposed to fluid in the cylinder, are of substantially equal effective cross-sectional areas, the tube is balanced as far as fluid pressure directed against its ends is concerned, and therefore the well pressure may be disregarded as far as its eiect endwise of the closure is concerned. Accordingly, the means eective to shift the valve may be accordingly simplified, to obvious advantage.

It will further be noted that the slotting of tube Il divides that member into what may be considered oppositely disposed closure-blades Il of arcuate cross-section (Fig. 8) and these blades may be considered as individually balanced as far as the effect of fluid pressure directed against their ends is concerned.

For effecting the opening of valve 3| I provide a member 40 mounted for movement longitudinally of the body and engageable with well casing A, plus an operative connection between that member and closure 33 whereby movement of one with relation to the body sets up movement oi.' the other. Since I have chosen here to show the invention as particularly applied to a device for cleaning casing-perforations, wherein it becomes preferable to provide a packer for localizing the cleaning effect and to provide inlet and by-pass ducts extending around the packer, I have indicated the utilization of member 40 both as a packer and as the member-which is operatively connected to the valve closure for moving the latter to open position. However, it will be understood that the invention, considered in its broader aspects. is limited neither to this dual use of member 40 nor to the by-pass provision and control thereforJ for in certain cleaning operations the packer and by-pass are unessential, as is also the elongated extension of the inlet duct below the inlet valve.

Therefore, the following description of particulai-ities of the friction shoe and of the by-pass arrangement here shown, is not to be construed as limitative on the broader aspects of the invention wherein those partlcularities are not essential. l

Threadably connected to section l3a is a tube or barrel dl which may be considered a part or extension of body C, the bore 42 of said barrel forming an inlet duct leading to valve 3| and, under certain conditions, forming a part of a bypassage, as will appear. The lower end of tube Il is closed by nose or shoe il (Figs. 13, and 4) MountedA for sliding movement longitudinally along barrel 4i, is a sleeve M carrying end nuts 4l and d8, the extent of downward movement of the sleeve being limited by upwardly facing shoulder M of nose Pin 48 extends diametrically across the bore of sleeve M, being terminally mountedin said sleeve in any suitable manner (Fig. l2) and through slots 49 extending longi tudinally of tube 4l.

Connecting rod 49' extends from pin 4B to pin 50, the latter being terminally supported by lugs il which depend from opposite sides of closure 33.

The pivotal connections between the connecting rod and pins allow such relative movement as will prevent binding of the closure within cylinder 32 should barrel 4i bend in the plane of the drawings.

The pin-and-slot arrangement allows, within certain limits, relative longitudinal movement of sleeve td and closure 33 with respect to barrel M and cylinder 32, respectively, but holds the sleeve and valve against rotationwith respect to the barrel and cylinder so registration between certain ports therein may be assured. The upper end-walls of the slots limit the upward movement of sleeve M and closure 33, as indicated in Fig. 5 where valve 3| is closed; though, if the slot 3 be extended upwardly, engagement of nut 45 with section ila may limit this movement.

Packer 40 maybe of any suitable type, being here illustrated as one well known in the art and consisting of a collar 52 shouldered at .53 on sleeve 44, an upwardly opening and radially expansive rubber or composition cup 5|, and a sleeve 55 adapted to thrust the cup against collar 52. Nut 56 is threaded on sleev'e M and serves to clamp the elements of the packer assembly in lfixed positions on the sleeve. Spring reeniorcing wires -51 may be provided for the packer-rubber.

At the lower end of sleeve 44 is a guide or centering member 58 which consists of body portion 59 having angularly spaced and longitudinally extending guide ribs 60 (Fig, 11) preferably having their lower ends tapered as at 6|' (Fig. 3). The guide is clamped between nut 46 and shoulder 82 on sleeve 44.

As will appear, the intake ports opening to duct 42l are provided between packer 40 and guide 58. The packer serves not only as a casing-engagement member for opening the valve, as will be later described, but also insuch operations as cleaning casing-perforations, is utilized to isolate the intake ports from the well fluid within casing A above the packer and thus more or less by they sudden charging of chamber D) at the casing perforations adjacent said intake ports. Where the casing perforations are exceedingly localize the effect of iluid movement (as created tightly plugged it may sometimes be desirable to localize more definitely such effect by providing a packer in place of guide 58, the two packers then serving to define ends of a zone isolated both top and bottom from the main uid column within the casing. However, such provision is not essential to ordinary operations, and therefore the showing is not complicated by such an addition, it being evident that certain features of the invention are applicable with equal advantage in either situation. t

The packer fills the annular space between the barrel and well casing and, when the packer is moved upwardly, the fluid column thereabove tends to expand it radially into tight frictional engagement with the well casing. In lowering or raising the cleaner it is therefore desirable to bypass the well :duid around the packer, for obvious reasons. Where guide bt is of a size or nature to interfere materially with the free passage of fluid therepast and particularly where it is in the form of a packer, as mentioned above, it is also desirable to icy-pass the uid around that member as the cleaner is raised or lowered. In such a case vit is desirable that the by-pass extend to a point below the guide. lin the drawings, I have shown such a bottom by-pass port so its function and control may be described, and for the same reason, in the following description it will be assumed that such provision is desirable in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the invention in spite of the fact that the guide here shown is so designed that a bottom by-pass port is not necessary. This showing of a bottom port and control therefor is not, however, to be considered as limitative on the broader aspects of the invention.

since, in the iliustratedcmbodlment of the invention, I utillzeduct dl both as an intake duct and as part of the by-passage, it becomes desirable that the by-pass portsabove and below the intake ports be closed off when the duct is used for intake purposes, so the fluid may not be drawn inwardly through the ley-pass ports from outside the otherwise isolated'intake zone and thus minimize the localizing eifect within that zone when chamber D is suddenly opened to receive a charge.

Opening into duct 42 of barrel 4| are intake ports 6| located between members 40 and 66, bypass ports 62 and 63, (ports 62 being, in effect, at all times above member 40) and by-pass ports 64 (Figs. 3 and 4) which are, in effect, located below member 68 when the valve is in the closed position of Fig. 5. Barrel 4| also has by-pass ports between member 40 and 58 which are not ordinarily needed, except for extra capacity, when.

p orts 64 are provided. Sleeve 44 has intake ports 66 and by-pass ports 61 between members 40 and 58, and is also provided with by-pass ports 68 above packer 46, and by-pass ports 69 which are, in effect, below member 58 (Figa-3 and 4). Ports 66 and 69 register with annular by-pass grooves 68 and 69 in packer sleeve 55 and guidebody 58, respectively, ports 66 and 69 opening to the grooves which assure effective port registration even though the packer sleeve or guidebody rotates about sleeve 44 in the event the looseness develops between them.

When the cleaner is lowered into the well it is in the condition of Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 10, the engagement of packer 46 with well-casing A tending to retard downward movement of the sleeve 44 and thus holding valve 3| closed. vFluid below the cleaner is by-passed during the descent of the tool through by-pass ports 64, duct 42 and by-pass ports 62, 68. It will also be seen that iiuid may by-pass packer 4|) from immediately below through ports 61, 65, duct 42 and ports 62, 68, 68 and 68". The last mentioned by-passage ordinarily will be self-sufficient when member 58 is of a nature freely to pass uid between itself and the well casing.

As the well-pressure increases during the descent of the cleaner, there results a tendency to press blades 38 more tightly into engagement with the wall of cylinder 32 and thus increasingly resist leakage tendency. There is thus imposed greater frictional resistance to valve-unseating but since the valve and all operating parts thereof are substantially balanced as far as the endwise effect of well pressure is concerned, and that effect therefore imposes no load, it is well within the power of the unseating mechanism to overcom this single resistance factor.

When the predetermined zone of operation is reached, the driller checks the descent of the tool and then imparts limited Withdrawal or lifting movement thereto by reeling-in cable I5. Since packer 40, due to its frictional engagement with well casing A, (particularly as it is radially expanded by the iiuid column above when the packer starts to move up with the body member) is held against appreciable upward movement, it sets up relative longitudinal movement between sleeve 44 and the body member. sleeve 44 held stationary, initial upward movement of body member C and barrel 4| causes that barrel to blank by-pass ports 68 and 64. During this port-closing movement, cylinder 32 is drawn upwardly over closure 33, but not to an extent to open inlet ports 34, it following that by the time said inlet ports are open no uid may be drawn into duct 42 through by-pass ports 62 and 64. By the time inlets 34 are fully open by-pass ports 61 will also be fully blanked. However, considering the invention in its broader aspects, this blanking of ports 61 is not essential, since those ports lie within the zone of operation, and if uid does ow therethrough when Thus, with.

inlet 34 is opened, no harm will result. In fact, ports 61 or 65 may be located so they serve both as by-pass and intake ports, but since it is sometimes desirable to localize the cleaning eifect within certain parts of the operative zone, this shut-off of ports 61 is illustrated to show means for concentrating the cleaning effect about intake ports 66.

When body member C has been elevated to the position of Fig. 6, (when all by-pass ports are closed) ports 16 in blades 36 register with inlet ports 34, and ports 6| register with ports 66 (Fig. 9) chamber D thus being opened for receiving a high-pressure-charge of well fluid through the following path: ports 66, 6|, duct 42, bore 36, bore 38a, and ports 16, 34. It will be understood, of course, that the opening of inlet ports 34 by way of ports 10 is not limitative on the invention, for if blades 36 were unported, it would merely be necessary to draw the blades down far enough to uncover inlet ports 34 to accomplish the same result. The illustrated showing is preferable as it provides an arrangement where, though the blades are relatively long to insure proper resiliency, etc., ports 10 allow the opening of the inlets without requiring a long blade-stroke.

Continued upward movement of body member C and barrel 4| to the position of Figs. 7 and 4. leaves valve 3| open, but carries by-pass ports 62 to a position above sleeve 44, brings by-pass ports 63 into register with ports v66, and brings by-pass ports 64 into register with ports 66 (Fig. 4). Likewise it brings ports 65 and 61 into registration. Though the latter registration is between ports individually different from those in Fig. 5, the effect is the same as though the initially registering ports were re-registered. Thus, as the cleaner is subsequently raised from the well, a by-passage is opened so the uid column in the casing does not materially interfere with the raising operation. Of course, as soon as the body member is elevated tothe position of Figs. 7 and 4, the engagement of shoe 43 with nut 46 serves to raise the packer along with the body, when the latter is withdrawn for dumping, in spite of such frictional engagement as may exist between the packer and the well casing.

When inlets 34 are opened, the fluid rushing into chamber D carries with it foreign matter (which is to be bailed) and, where the device is used as a perforation cleaner, the in-rush sets up such movement in the well fluid surrounding the tool below the packer as to dislodge slugs of foreign matter in the perforaa tions of the well-casing. The slugs (which are sometimes broken up by the fluid action and sometimes are removed intact) usually, though not necessarily, are carried into chamber D along with the inrushing fluid.

Check valve 36 opens, of course, during the inrush of fluid to chamber D, and thereafter closes to form a foot-valve to hold the charge. As the cleaner is subsequently raised, there arises a differential in the internal and external pressures imposed on the cleaner body, but relief valve I6 allows a bleeding of chamber D to reduce the higher internal pressure and thus eliminates danger of bursting and allows subsequent unloading without danger or inconvenience to the operator.

After the cleaner is fully withdrawn from the well, door 22 is opened to unload chamber D, such built-up internal pressure as remains in the chamber and generally as measured by the throughout relative strength of the relier-valve spring, giving the material an initial outward impulse. To prevent a .substantial negative pressure from developing in the chamber which would otherwise prevent complete unloading. plug ,-20 may be -removed to permit inflow oi' air through valve I9 to the topof chamber D.

In Figs. 13. 14, and 15 I have shown a variational embodiment of my invention to which the i'oregoing description of structure and operation will generally apply. Therefore. such parts oi' the variation as are similar to those of the previously described figures will be given the same reference numerals.

In the variation, section 13a isconsiderably elongated and has a counterbore 13b. Connecting rod 49a is here shown as a tube (its bore 49h becoming a part of duct 42) its upper end being threaded into valve-tube 3 3 while its lower end takes pin 48 so members 49a and 44 are held against relative movement, though both are movable longitudinally with respect to barrel 4|. Compression spring 50a in counterbore |31 is interposed between the upper end or the barrel and the under face 51a. of closure-head 5| b which latter takes the upper end of tube 49a. Tube 49a and head 5Ib fit loosely in barrel 4l so well-iluid has accessto counterbore I3b, it following that the valve arrangement is exposed to balanced iiuid pressure just as in the form previously described.

Barrel 4I has diametrically opposite intake ports Sia. opening into duct 42, while sleeve 44 has slots 66a which register with the ports longitudinal movement between barrel and sleeve. Preferably, slots 66a are wider than ports Bla and their side walls diverge outwardly so they may be readily washed clean of dbris as the cleaner passes through the well-fluid.

Since tube 49a extends above-and below the packer by-pass, it is provided with ports 52a and 63a, port 63a registering with port 62 and port 62a being blanked by barrel 4| when the barrel and sleeve are relatively extended, as in Fig. 13. When the barrel and sleeve are relatively shifted longitudinally, ports 62a and 63a are brought into register with ports 62 and 63, respectively.

Blades 38a are Imported, their ends being drawn below ports 34 to open the latter upon withdrawal movement of the body, as previously described.

Spring Elia tends to urge closure 38, tube lila,

sleeve M and packer 40 upwardly with respectv to the body member tohold the parts yieldably in the positions of Fig. 13 until withdrawal movement is imparted to the body. The spring thus acts as means for resisting opening movement of the valve, without increasing the frictional drag of closure 33 on the walls of cylinder 32, to prevent premature opening of the valve by force of inertia in the event the cleaner momentarily hangs up on a casing obstruction. It also insures that the valve be kept closed during lowering of the cleaner if the packer fails to engage the casing suiiciently tightly or passes through an enlarged bore in the casing. Of course when the cleaner is pulled upwardly to open the valve (it is sometimes advantageous to give it a, sharp pull) the fluid column above the packer acts to check its upward movement and to expand it radially into tighter peripheral engagement with the casing, so spring 50a is overpowered and the valve is drawn open.

` being open to admit well iiuid,

lhaving one face engaged with while I have mustmtedsna described a typical embodiment of thel invention. itwill be understood such illustration and description are merely illustrative of and not limitative on said invention, for various changes in design. structure and arrangement may be made without departing i'rom the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a well cleaner, a body member having a low-pressure chamber and a side inlet therefor, a valve seat for said inlet embodying a member having a bore into which said inlet opens. one end of the bore being closed and the other end v a closure embodying a blade mounted in said bore for movement to and from a position closing said inlet, said blade having one face engaged with the bore defining wall and the opposite face and the top and bottom of said blade being adapted to be exposed to well-fluid and being of substantially equal effective cross-sectional areas, andmeans for moving the closure from closing position.

2. In a Well cleaner, a. body member having a low-pressure chamber and a sideinlet therefor, a valve seat for said inlet embodying a member having a bore of arcuate cross-section into which said inlet opens, one end of the bore being closed and the other end being open to admit well uid, a closure embodying a blade of arcuate crosssection mounted in said bore for movement to and from a position closing said inlet, said blade the bore dening wall and the opposite face and the top and bottom oi' said blade being adapted to be exposed to well-fluid and being oi' substantially equal eifective cross-sectional areas, and means for movingthe closure from closing position.

3. In a well cleaner adapted to be lowered in a well casing, a body member having a lowpressure chamber and an inlet therefor, a valve for said inlet, .a packer adapted to engage the well casing, said packer being mounted on and being movable longitudinally of the body member, and an operative connection between the packer and valve whereby packer-movement longitudinally of the body member is adapted to open said valve. and means for setting up such relative movement by virtue of withdrawal movement of the cleaner.

4. In a well cleaner, a body member having a low-pressure chamber and an inlet port therefor, said body having an inlet duct leading to said port, a valve for the inlet port, a packer on the body, there being av pairof by-pass ports in the body opening into the duct, one above and one below the packer, means for closing one of said by-pass ports, and means for opening said valve when said by-pass port is closed.

5. In a well cleaner, a body member having a low-pressure chamber and an inlet port therefor, said body having an inlet duct leading tosaid port, a valve for the inlet port, a packer on the body, there being a pair of by-pass ports in the body opening into the duct, one above and one below the packer, and means operative successively to close one of said by-pass ports and open said valve.

6. In a well cleaner,'a body member having a low-pressure chamber and an inlet port therefor, said body having an inlet duct leading to said port, a valve for the inlet port, a packer on the body, there being a pair of by-pass ports in the valve and then re-open the last mentioned bypass port.

7. In a well cleaner, a body member having` a low-pressure chamber and an inlet port therefor, said body having an inlet duct leading to said port, a valve for the inlet port, a packer mounted on and being movable longitudinally of the body member, there being a pair of by-pass ports in the body opening into said duct, one above and one below the packer, and a movable closure for one of said by-pass ports, said closure and packer being operatively connected whereby packermovement longitudinally of the body member moves said closure.

8. In a well cleaner, a body member having a low-pressure chamber and an inlet therefor, a closure embodying a member mounted for movement to and from a position closingthe inlet and having its bottom adapted to be exposed to welliluid, said closure having a passageway adapted to conduct well fluid from beneath the closure to the top thereof, said top and bottom having substantially equal eilective cross-sectional areas, and means for moving the closure from inletclosing position, said means embodying a packer movably mounted on the body, and an operative connection between the packer and closure.

9. In a well cleaner, a body member having a low-pressure chamber, a cylinder disposed in the lower end of the chamber, said cylinder being closed at its upper end and open at its lower end for admission of well-fluid, a side port through the wall of the cylinder and in communication with the chamber, a tubular closure mounted for movement in the cylinder to and from a position closing said port, the wall of said tubular closure being slotted at one side of said port, the bore of said closure putting the top and bottom of the cylinder into communication, the effective crosssectional areas of the top and bottom of the closure, as exposed in said cylinder, being substantially equal, and means for moving the closure from port-closing position.

10. In a well cleaner adapted to be lowered through a well-casing, a body member having a low-pressure chamber and an inlet therefor, a. closure embodying a member mounted for movement longitudinally of the body to and from a position closing the inlet, a sleeve mounted on the body member and movable longitudinally therealong, an operative connection between the sleeve and said closure whereby sleeve-movement in one direction is adapted to move the closure from the inlet, and a packer on the movable sleeve and adapted to engage the well-casing.

l1. In a well cleaner adapted to be lowered through a well-casing, a body member having a low-pressure chamber and an inlet therefor, a closure embodying a member mounted for movement longitudinally of the body to and from a position closing the inlet, the body member having an inlet duct in communication with wellfiuid and leading to the inlet closure, a. sleeve mounted on the body member and movable longitudinally therealong, an operative connection between the sleeve and said closure whereby sleeve-movement in one direction is adapted to move the closure from the inlet, and a. packer on the movable sleeve and adapted to engage the well-casing, there being by-pass ports in the body member above and below the packer and opening to said duct, said Vsleeve closing one of said bypass ports when it is moved to open the closure.

12. In a well cleaner adapted to be lowered through -a well-casing, a body member having a low-pressure chamber and an inlet therefor, a. closure embodying a member mounted for movement longitudinally of the body to and from a position closing the inlet, a sleeve mounted on the body member and movable longitudinally therealong, an operative connection between the sleeve and said closure whereby sleeve-movement in one direction is adapted to move the closure from the inlet, and a packer on the movable sleeve and adapted to engage the well-casing, there being -a by-passage through the body member around the packer, said by-passage being closed when the closure is moved from the inlet, said sleeve opening the by-passage upon continued movement of the sleeve in a closure-opening direction.

13. In a well cleaner, a body member having a low-pressure chamber, a cylinder disposedin the lower end of the chamber, said cylinder being closed at its upper end and open at its lower end for admission of well-iluid, a side port through the wall of the cylinder and in communication with the chamber, a tubular closure mounted for movement in the'cylinder to and from a position closing said port, the wall of said tubular closure being slotted at opposite sides of said port, the bore of said closure putting the top and bottom of the cylinder into communication, the effective cross-sectional areas of the top and bottom of the closure, as exposed in said cylinder, being substantially equal, and means for moving the closure from port-closing position.

14. In a well cleaner, a body member having a low-pressure chamber and an inlet therefor, a closure embodying a member mounted for movement to and from a position closing the inlet and having its bottom adapted to be exposed to well-iiuid, there being a passageway interiorly of the body member adapted to conduct well fluid from beneath the closure to the top thereof, said top and bottom having substantially equal effective cross-sectional areas, a spring yieldingly holding the closure in inlet-closing position, and means for moving the closure from inlet-closing position.

15. In a well cleaner adapted to be lowered in a well casing, a body member having a low-pressure chamber and an inlet therefor, a valve for said inlet, a packer adapted to engage the well casing and mounted for movement longitudinally of the body member, andan operative connection between the packer and valve whereby packer-movement relative to the body member is adapted to operate said valve, a spring yieldably holding the valve in inlet-closing position and yleldably holding the packer and body in predetermined relative positions, and means for setting up such relative movement by virtue of withdrawal movement of the cleaner.

16. In a well cleaner adapted to be lowered in a well casing, a body member having a low-pressure chamber and an inlet therefor, a tubular valve for said inlet, a packer adapted to engage the well casing and mounted for movement longitudinally of the body member, and an oper- -ative connection between the packer and valve whereby packer-movement relative to the body member is adapted to operate said valve, said connection including a tubular member attached to the valve and with its bore in communication with the valve bore, and means for setting up such relative movement by virtue of withdrawal movement of the cleaner.

JAMES J. SANTIAGO. 

